Echinacea plant named &#39;HILMOOOCOSY&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Hilmooocosy’ , characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong and healthy roots; dark green-colored leaves; strong flowering stems; numerous large inflorescences with dark pink-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Echinacea purpurea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HILMOOOCOSY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea purpurea, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Hilmooocosy’.

The new Echinacea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands.

The objective of the breeding program is to develop new strong andfreely flowering Echinacea plants with attractive ray and disc floretcoloration.

The new Echinacea plant originated from an open-pollination in June,2009 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection ofEchinacea purpurea identified as code designation T 14061 A, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofEchinacea purpurea as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinaceaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination grown in acontrolled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in July,2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by tissue culture in acontrolled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since September,2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Echinacea plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hilmooocosy’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hilmooocosy’ as a new and distinct Echinaceaplant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Strong and healthy roots.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Strong flowering stems.    -   6. Numerous large inflorescences with dark pink-colored ray        florets.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea have smaller leaves than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea have smaller inflorescences than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Echinacea are lighter pink        in color than ray florets of plants of the female parent        selection.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinaceapurpurea ‘Kim's Knee High’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,242. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel,

The Netherlands, plants of the new Echinacea differed primarily fromplants of ‘Kim's Knee High’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea were more compact than plants of        ‘Kim's Knee High’.    -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea had stronger and healthier roots        and leaves than plants of ‘Kim's Knee High’.    -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Kim's Knee High’.    -   4. Plants of the new Echinacea had smaller inflorescences than        plants of ‘Kim's Knee High’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Echinacea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Echinacea plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Hilmooocosy’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse and “finished” in anoutdoor nursery in De Kwakel, The Netherlands under cultural practicestypically used in commercial Echinacea production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 20° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 7° C. to 15° C. Plants used for the photographand description were 20 weeks old. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea ‘Hilmooocosy’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea purpurea            identified as code designation T 14061 A, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown selection of Echinacea purpurea, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five weeks at            temperatures about 20° C. for the first two weeks, then at            temperatures about 12° C. to 14° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six weeks at            temperatures about 20° C. for the first two weeks, then at            temperatures about 14° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 14° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; strong and            healthy; typically white to brown in color, actual color of            the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water            quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright            and relatively compact plant habit, narrow inverted            triangle; freely branching habit with about 17 branches            developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 41 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 33 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 21.5 cm. Diameter: About            8 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Aspect: Erect to about            10° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent, strigose; rough. Color: Close to 200A to 200B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 11 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Long attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire; moderately undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately to densely            pubescent, strigose; rough.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            N137B and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            between 146A to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to between N137A to 147A; venation, close to 177A            slightly tinged with close to 152C. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to between 146A and 147B; venation,            close to 145B.        -   Petioles, basal leaves.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:            Close to 177A; margins, close to N137B. Color, lower            surface: Close to 144B; margins, close to N137A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Terminal rotate single-type inflorescences with            ray and disc florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences            positioned upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright            and strong peduncles.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 17            inflorescences per plant at one time.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet, pleasant.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 13 to 18 weeks            after planting; in the garden, plants flower continuously            from mid-June to late September in The Netherlands.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About            3 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Involucral bracts,            close to 143A and 137B; ray florets, close to 52B, towards            the base, close to 150C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.5 cm. Depth (height):            About 3.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 3.4 cm. Receptacle            height: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.1 cm.            Receptacle color: Close to 155C slightly tinged with close            to 64A to 64B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 18 arranged in            a single whorl at the base of the receptacle. Length: About            3.8 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate to narrowly            ovate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,            upper surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Slightly            glossy. Aspect: Horizontal to drooping, about 10° from            horizontal. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to            67A; towards the apex, close to 67B; towards the base, close            to 61B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 59D. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 64B; towards the base, close            to 61B; color becoming closer to 64C to 64D with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 60C to            60D; color becoming closer to 60D with development.        -   Disc florets.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Shape: Tubular, apices acute. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About 400. Texture, inner and outer surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Luster, inner and outer surfaces: Glossy.            Color, immature, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to            144B tinged with close to 180B. Mid-section: Close to 152C.            Base: Close to 144B. Color, mature, inner and outer            surfaces: Apex and mid-section: Close to 182B tinged with            close to 181A. Base: Close to 146D.        -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret. Shape:            Acicular. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Glossy. Color: Apex: Close to N30B            to N30C; at the apex, close to 46A. Mid-section: Close to            143B. Base: Close to 145B.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 64            arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 9 mm. Width:            About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Moderately to            densely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 12.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture: Moderately            pubescent, strigose. Color: Close to 200C tinged with close            to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc            florets): Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:            About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther shape:            Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color:            Close to N200A to N200B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 17B. Gynoecium (present only on disc            florets): Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About            7 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close            to 187A. Style length: About 5.5 mm. Style color: Close to            185A. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and            fruit development have not been observed on plants of the            new Echinacea.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Echinacea have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good    garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new    Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about    35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Hilmooocosy’as illustrated and described.